Shoe-cleaner.



w. F. MARTIN.

SHOE CLE-A'NER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1914.

1,179,541 Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c

UD STATES WILLIAM I. MARTIN, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

SHOE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Applieation'flled July 81, 1914. Serial No. 854.;220.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itlmown that I, IVLLLIAM F. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kenosha, in the county of Keno-sha and State of IVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Cleaners, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates -to improvements in .shoe cleaners and more particularly to that type for cleaning the soles and sides of boots and shoes.

It is one of the objects of the presentinven'tion to provide a shoe cleaner whereby the sides :of the boot or shoe "are cleaned parts of the sheet metal.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved shoe cleaner and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: Figure 1 is a side view of the improved shoe cleaner; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view thereof taken on line 4- 1 of the same figure; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank before it has been bent into shape.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 8 indicates the blank or rectangular piece of metal which is provided with a U-shaped cut 9 to form a rectangular lip 10 and a U- shaped member lOconsisting of a bottom portion 11 and side or stem portions 11. Looking tongues 12 are also formed in the blank as well as corner apertures 13 to receive securing screws or nails (not shown).v

The side and bottom lines of the U-shape cut 9 are parallel to the side and bottom edges of the blank and approximately extend through one half portion thereof. The locking tongues 12 are formed in the uncut half portion 14 of the blank and are located at opposite ends of the blank outside of the plane of the side cuts of the lip.

The stem portions 11 of the U-shaped part are bent to form upper circular alined tubes 15 and the bottom portion 11 is bent to rest against the side of the uncut part of the blank and is overlapped by the lip 10 which is bent :to form the scraping edge 10 of the cleaner andextends downwardly iandis curved outwardly to form one of the .legsor base portions 16 of the cleaner. The uncut portion of the blank is also curved outwardly'to formthe other legor base portion '17 of the cleaner.

The "U-shaped member of the blank is held .in formed position by means of the locking tongues 12 which are bent to overlap the bottom portion 111 of said member. These tongues also serve as a support for said U-shaped member. The circular tubes 15-form sockets for the shanks of brushes 18 mounted therein andthe said tubes are 'flattened slightly to hold the brushes in said tubes. The brushesextend inwardly toward each other and are adapted to be engaged bytheside'portions of a boot or shoe scraped overthe edge 10 of the cleaner.

In use, a person places the sole of the shoe on the scraping edge of the device and by drawing the foot back and forth over the scraping edge, mud and dirt are readily taken off the sole and at the same time the side brushes clean the sides of the shoe. If the shoe is narrower than the space between the brushes, the foot can, of course, be moved laterally into engagement with either brush.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the shoe cleaner is of very simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A shoe cleaner, comprising a sheet metal blank having a U-shaped cut to form a lip and a U-shaped portion, the side parts of the U-shaped portion being bent to form brush holding tubes and the lip being bent to form a scraping edge and overlapping the bottom part of the U-shaped portion and being curved outwardly to form a supporting leg, another portion of the blank also being curved outwardly to form the other supporting leg, and brushes inserted into the holding tubes.

2. A shoe cleaner, comprising a sheet metal blank having a U-shaped cut in approximately one-half portion to form a lip 4 and a U-shaped portion, the side parts ofl the U-shaped portion being curved to form-i portion of the, U-shaped part extending between the lip and the uncut half portion adbrush holding tubes and the lip being bent, to form a scraping edge and overlapping the bottom part of the U-shaped portion and ex-' tending downwardly and outwardly to form a supporting leg, the uncut half portion of the blank also extending downwardly and outwardly to form the other supporting leg,

portions of the uncut half portion of the blank being cut to form tongues for engaging and locking the bottom portion of the U-shaped part in position, and brushes inserted in the holding tubes and extending toward each'other.

f 3. A shoe cleaner formed of anintegral sheet metal blank having a U-shaped cut half portion to form a lip and aU-shaped 20 its length to form a scraping edge and to portion, the lip being bent, longitudinally of extend the lip downwardly to form a supporting leg, the uncut half portion of the blank also extending downwardly and outwardly' to form the other leg, the bottomjacent to the longitudinal bend of the lip and" the side parts of the U-shaped portion extending upwardly above the plane of the bentfpart and being bent to form brush holding tubes, portions of the uncut half portion of the blank beingcut to form projecting tongues which overlap the bottomvporof its length to form a scraping edge and to portion of the U-shaped part extending betion o f the U-shaped part and lock it in position, said blankalso having apertures for receiving means for securing the device to a support, and brushes mounted within the holding tubes and extending toward each other.

4. A shoe cleaner formed of an integral sheet metal blank having a U-shaped out half portion to form a lip and a U-shaped portion, the lip being bent longitudinally extend the lip downwardly to form a supporting leg, the uncut half portion of the,

blank also extending downwardly and outwardly to form the other leg, the bottom portion of the U-shaped part andlock it infposition, said blank also having apertures for receiving means for'securing the device 60 to a support.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. MARTIN.

Witnesses: MYRTLE KvIoALA,

PETER FISHER. I T;

: copiesot this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byladdressing the conimissioner of Patents,

Washington, n.0, f p 

